Saut à la couverte

Plot

This early documentary short film captures a simple yet engaging scene of people participating in a traditional game of jumping over a blanket. The film shows a group of individuals, likely workers or local residents from Lyon, taking turns to leap over a held blanket in what appears to be a recreational activity. The camera remains stationary, observing the participants as they approach, jump, and clear the blanket obstacle. The straightforward presentation showcases the Lumière brothers' interest in capturing everyday activities and simple pleasures of life. The film concludes with the successful completion of the jumps by the participants, demonstrating their agility and enthusiasm.

Historical Background

This film was created in 1896, just one year after the historic first public film screening by the Lumière brothers on December 28, 1895, at the Grand Café in Paris. This period represents the birth of cinema as a mass medium, and films like 'Saut à la couverte' were instrumental in demonstrating the new technology's ability to capture and reproduce reality. The 1890s was a decade of tremendous technological innovation, with the development of motion pictures, automobiles, and wireless communication. In France, the Belle Époque was in full swing, characterized by optimism, peace, and cultural flourishing. The Lumière brothers' films documented the everyday life of this era, providing invaluable historical records of late 19th-century French society.

Making Of

The film was created during the pioneering days of cinema when Auguste and Louis Lumière were actively documenting various aspects of daily life. The production was extremely simple by modern standards - requiring only the Cinématographe camera, natural outdoor lighting, and willing participants. The blanket-jumping game was likely chosen for its visual appeal and the clear demonstration of human movement it provided. The film was shot in a single take with a fixed camera position, which was standard practice for early Lumière productions. The participants were probably factory workers or local residents rather than professional actors, reflecting the Lumière brothers' documentary approach to filmmaking.

Visual Style

The cinematography in 'Saut à la couverte' represents the most basic techniques of early filmmaking. The camera remains fixed in a single position throughout the approximately 50-second duration, capturing the action from a stationary perspective. The film was shot outdoors using natural daylight, as artificial lighting technology for film had not yet been developed. The composition is straightforward, with the blanket and jumping participants clearly visible in the frame. The black and white imagery, captured on 35mm film, shows the characteristic high contrast and grain of early motion picture stock. The camera work demonstrates the Lumière brothers' documentary approach - unobtrusive, observational, and focused on capturing reality as it unfolded.

Innovations

The film represents a technical achievement in its use of the Cinématographe, a revolutionary device that served as camera, printer, and projector. The hand-cranked camera could record approximately 16 frames per second, creating smooth motion that was superior to many contemporaneous technologies. The film stock used was 35mm with perforations, a standard that would dominate cinema for decades. The ability to capture outdoor scenes in natural light was significant for the time. The film also demonstrates early mastery of exposure and focus techniques necessary for clear image reproduction. The relatively short length was dictated by technical limitations but proved effective for early film presentations.

Memorable Scenes

• The sequence showing participants taking turns to jump over the held blanket, demonstrating their agility and enthusiasm in this simple recreational activity.

What Critics Said

Contemporary reception of early Lumière films like 'Saut à la couverte' was characterized by wonder and amazement at the new technology's ability to capture and reproduce reality. Critics and audiences of the 1890s were fascinated by the lifelike movement and detail that motion pictures could achieve. Modern film historians and critics recognize these early shorts as foundational documents in cinema history, praising their simplicity, authenticity, and historical value. The film is now appreciated not for its entertainment value but for its role in establishing the language of cinema and documenting late 19th-century life.

What Audiences Thought

Early audiences reacted to films like 'Saut à la couverte' with astonishment and excitement, having never before seen moving images captured and reproduced with such clarity. The simple action of jumping over a blanket, when shown on screen, was considered miraculous by viewers of the 1890s. These films were often part of variety show programs and drew curious crowds eager to experience the new technology. The straightforward, relatable content made these early films accessible and engaging to audiences of all backgrounds, helping establish cinema as a popular entertainment medium.

You Might Also Like